The Game

Chapter 18: Take Your Shot

Walking in the group within the chamber, Joe and Lexa found themselves engaged in a somber conversation, their voices hushed as they reflected on everything happening.

"I just can't believe Kelsey's gone" Joe murmured, his tone heavy with grief "We had each other's backs in this game, you know? It's like losing a part of myself kind of, I'm really gonna miss her."

Lexa nodded in understanding, her expression sympathetic. "I know Joe, She was a good person and she'll be missed, but the four of us can still win and end Mr. Beauforts twisted games."

From the back of the group, Rachel holding her coin tightly interjected with a soft voice, "I'm sorry, Joe, I didn't think it would go so wrong."

Joe turned to Rachel, offering her a grateful nod "Thanks Rachel, I know And it's not your fault, None of us could have predicted this."

Their conversation was interrupted by Gary's sharp intake of breath as he spotted another armed guard patrolling nearby, Without hesitation, he turned to the group, his voice urgent. "We need to take him down fast, before he becomes a threat."

Rachel, her gaze fixed on the guard suggested to Lexa."You should shoot him, It's the safest option, kill him now and we don't have to risk what Happened to Kelsey."

Lexa hesitated, weighing her options but before she could make a decision, Gary intervened "No, we can't stoop to their level, We're better than that, I can take him down non lethal like I did the last guy only use the gun as a last resort."

Lexa glanced between Gary and the guard, torn between her desire for safety and Gary's principles She knew she had to make a choice

As she stood debating between the two options, the guard turned around, alarm flashing in his eyes as he checked his device and he saw that Joe and Lexa were eligible to be eliminated but Rachel and Gary were coin holders, Joe and Lexa realized this, their hearts pounding with fear.

With lightning speed, Gary lunged at the guard with a spear like motion, aiming to disarm him, but the guard swiftly sidestepped, delivering a powerful kick to Gary's face, sending him crashing to the ground hard knocking him dizzy.

In a split-second decision after seeing Gary go down, Lexa her hands trembling with panic, pulled the trigger of her gun, but the shot missed its mark, veering off to the left hitting a wall as the guard took aim at her.

The deafening sound of gunfire filled the chamber as the guard's bullet struck Lexa square in the chest, the impact sending her reeling backward, a look of shock etched on her face as she collapsed to the ground, motionless.

With a surge of adrenaline, Gary sprang to his feet, his fists clenched in fury as he launched himself at the guard, raining down blows upon him in a fit of rage.

Gary knocked the guard out disarming him and continued to rain punches on his face as he laid on the ground unconscious.

Joe his voice filled with desperation, broke through the chaos, pleading with Gary to stop the violence. "Enough, Gary! This isn't you!" And ran up pulling Gary off of the guard.

Tears welled in Gary's eyes as he struggled to contain his emotions. "Fuck! I can't save anyone," he cried his voice raw with anguish and punching the ground.

Amidst the chaos, Rachel seized the opportunity to act, grabbing Lexa's gun from the ground before swiftly retrieving the guard's weapon as well, with a sense of grim determination, she approached Joe offering him the gun.
"Joe I think you need this without a coin you're a big target."

But Joe shook his head "I'm not good with guns, I think you should keep it," he insisted, his voice heavy with sorrow.

As the tension hung thick in the air,
Rachel turned to Gary
"I think you know what's needed now?"

Gary reluctantly accepted the second gun from Rachel, his expression grim as he prepared himself for the inevitable
"I'll take it but it's only for emergencies."

Rachel's reply cut through him like a knife, her voice laced with urgency and frustration "Look Gary everything here is an emergency now, We shouldn't wait around trying to be heroic when we're being hunted like fucking animals, two people already died in this game, we can't wait around, and any amount of guards Beaufort loses helps us."

With a resigned sigh, Gary nodded, his grip tightening on the weapon as he urged the group to move forward.

While walking more Joe's sharp eyes caught sight of a glimmering coin, his excitement palpable as he pointed it out to the others. "I see a coin! We can get it and be out of this game!"
Just as hope seemed within reach
It was dashed as two armed guards appeared in front of the coin, their weapons aimed squarely at the group and they spoke "one target available."

Without hesitation, Rachel sprang into action, her movements fluid and precise as she swiftly dispatched both guards with deadly accuracy shooting both of them in the head, their bodies dropping to the ground in quick succession.

As she walked past their lifeless bodies, the metallic tang of blood hung heavy in the air, staining her hands and clothes with crimson splatters, With a determined expression, she retrieved the coin and tossed it to Joe, her voice filled with grim resolve "Okay, Beaufort, we have your coins, let's end your little games."

Mr. Beaufort's grin widened, his voice dripping with satisfaction as he clapped his hands and spoke into his microphone echoing into their chamber "Well done, beautifully played, The drama, the action, the conflict of emotions and actions, the twists! Bravo, bravo! You're our top 3 contestants! You should all be proud."

Rachel's response was terse, her eye roll speaking volumes "Fuck off, let's just get this over with."

Joe and Gary could only stand in stunned silence, their minds reeling from the whirlwind of events that had just unfolded before them.

Joe looking down at the blood stained coin in his hand, he knew so many lives were lost during this game and he knew nothing from this point on would be easy.